‘Going up the food chain’

This company is farming, stocking and supplying its own produce

In 1991, Trikaya was one of the first Indian corporate groupsto grow and directly market produce—including herbs, fruits and microgreens—that was earlier being imported. “We ran at a loss for the first five years, but it’s been profitable since. Since the mandis were not grower-friendly, we were forced to create a setup to deliver directly to customers. This also ensured that we did not have to deal with middlemen. One of the biggest challenges was the import restrictions on planting material and seeds. When we visited farms abroad, we realised that the cold chain is crucial to growing good produce. So we invested in cold rooms and refrigerated trucks from the onset, which gave us a lead over others who got into the market later. To me, a Made in India tag means that the right resources have been harnessed. After trying to farm anything that’s normally imported, we discovered how easy it is. By selling that same product at one-fourth the price of its imported value, it broadens the market and makes it available to more Indians. This industry grows at a rate of over 35 percent a year. As India grows, so will our markets.”